Public Perception in Saudi Arabia Toward Herpes Zoster and Its Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Herpes zoster (HZ) or shingles, arises from the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), mainly affecting older and immunocompromised individuals. Despite the efficacy of vaccines, vaccination rates in Saudi Arabia are low. Thus, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the Saudi Arabian population toward HZ and its vaccination.

Effect of a WhatsApp walking trial on daily steps among female Saudi Arabian university students.

Objective: Physical inactivity in Saudi women is high, even among young women (60% of university students are physically inactive). We aimed to investigate the effect of a physical activity intervention on daily walking among female students at a Saudi university.

Methods: Two hundred and seven female students (mean age: 22.

10 years of experience in adopting, implementing and evaluating progress testing for Saudi medical students.

Objectives: The progress test (PT) is a comprehensive examination that is designed to match the knowledge acquisition necessary at graduation and monitors progress during the entire period of an undergraduate program. Qassim College of Medicine (QCM) began using the multi-institutional PT in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aimed to determine if the PT can be utilized to assess the progress of medical students at different Saudi medical colleges with different educational approaches, as well as whether this testing modality could be accepted by other colleges.

Mucormycosis co-infection in COVID-19 patients: An update.

Mucormycosis (MCM) is a rare fungal disorder that has recently been increased in parallel with novel COVID-19 infection. MCM with COVID-19 is extremely lethal, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The collection of available scientific information helps in the management of this co-infection, but still, the main question on COVID-19, whether it is occasional, participatory, concurrent, or coincidental needs to be addressed.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes Asp312Asn (rs1799793), Lys 751 Gln (rs13181), Arg399 Gln (rs25487) and Thr 241Met (rs861539) with the susceptibility of lung cancer in Saudi population.

This study demonstrated the association of polymorphisms in (Asp312Asn) rs1799793, (Lys751Gln) rs13181, (Arg399Gln) rs25487 and (Thr241Met) rs861539 polymorphisms with a susceptibility of lung cancer (LC) onset in the Saudi population. The study was performed on 134 LC patients and 270 controls. The data revealed that there was no significant association of LC with subtype squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and adenocarcinoma with the rs1799793 polymorphism.

Thymoquinone provides structural protection of human hemoglobin against oxidative damage: Biochemical studies.

Hydroxyl radicals (OH) are one of the most active reactive oxidants recognized for their deleterious effects to cause protein oxidative damage. Thymoquinone, a monoterpene molecule abundantly present in black cumin and known for its pharmacological activities, but its activity against the OH-induced protein oxidative damage has never been explored. This study determined the therapeutic potential of thymoquinone against OH-induced oxidative human hemoglobin damage.

Physicians based emergency medical services for the management of burn injuries in trauma centers of the center region of Saudi Arabia: evaluation of physicians' knowledge and experience.

Background: Medical services at trauma centers regularly encounter severe burn patients but prehospital care of these patients in Saudi Arabia is comparatively unexplored. This study evaluates the knowledge and experience of physicians working in trauma centers of Qassim province of Saudi Arabia for the management of patients with burn injuries.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study performed on 204 physicians working in the trauma centers of Qassim province.

Digitalization plan in medical education during COVID-19 lockdown.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced the adoption of virtual learning after the urgent suspension of traditional teaching. Different online learning strategies were established to face this learning crisis. The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to reveal the different digital procedures implemented by the College of Medicine at Qassim University for better student performance and achievement.

Bisphenol A modified DNA: A possible immunogenic stimulus for anti-DNA autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anti-DNA antibodies are now considered as a universal diagnostic feature for the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but the mechanism(s) involved in the generation of these autoantibodies remains to be investigated. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic phenol extensively used in the manufacturing of polycarbonated plastics. Upon mixing in the diet, it causes several health hazards.

Job insecurity, fear of litigation, and mental health among expatriate nurses.

The objective was to assess whether job insecurity and fear of litigation were correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress among expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia. The participants included 977 expatriate nurses working in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia who completed an online survey that assessed depression, anxiety, and stress (using DASS-21) as well as demography, lifestyle, and job characteristics. Mean age was 32 years and 60% of nurses were from India/Pakistan.

Association of cumulative job dissatisfaction with depression, anxiety and stress among expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Aims: We aimed to (a) determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia, and (b) assess how dissatisfaction with salary, workload and teamwork, individually and in combination, was associated with those conditions.

Background: Prevalence estimates for depression, anxiety and stress among nurses are higher than those in the general population. Available data on the mental health of expatriate nurses are limited.

Physicians' knowledge, expectations, and practice regarding antibiotic use in primary health care.

Objective: Physicians' knowledge of antibiotics, their attitudes, expectations, and practices regarding antibiotic prescription is fundamental for controlling the irrational antibiotic use. This study evaluates primary health care (PHC) physicians' knowledge, expectation, and practices regarding antibiotics use in upper respiratory tract infections.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in the Qassim region where 32 PHC centers were selected randomly.

Glycemic indices, glycemic load and glycemic response for seventeen varieties of dates grown in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Dates are consumed worldwide, and are an important fruit for many individuals in Saudi Arabia. Currently, limited information is available on the glycemic indices of different date varieties.

Objectives: To determine the glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL) and glycemic response for 17 common date varieties in Saudi Arabia.

Depression and anxiety among parents and caregivers of autistic spectral disorder children.

Objective: To evaluate the presence of depression and anxiety in parents/caregivers of autistic spectral disorder (ASD) children, and to identify associated factors.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study carried out between July and December 2011, parents/caregivers of at least one child diagnosed with an ASD (cases group), were recruited through the Saudi Charitable Society of Autism Families and the Autism Clinic in the Pediatric out-patient clinic in King Fahad National Guard Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The parents/caregivers of a normally developed child (control group) were recruited from the Well Child Clinic at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh.

Depression among Women with Primary Infertility attending an Infertility Clinic in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Rate, Severity, and Contributing Factors.

Background: Infertility is a severely distressing experience for many couples. Depression is considered as one of the main psychological disorders associated with infertility and it may significantly affect the life of infertile individuals, their treatment, and follow-up.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determining the prevalence and predisposing factors of depressive disorders among the infertile compared to fertile women.